We have an obligation to judge him favorably and remind everyone of his merits. He has apologized profusely and we must urge everyone to accept him back with love.
I believe that Rabbi Kaplan is a good man. The love his students have for him is obvious. And for good reason it seems – even if based only on this email. (I’m sure there are many testimonials like this about him.)
There’s more. Rabbi Fink goes on to say:
The lecture ends with a surprise dismantling of another charedi stereotype. Rabbi Kaplan talked about advising young men to leave the study hall and enter the workforce. He reported that he heard from 10 of his students in the last week. Of the ten, he had advised six to go to work and the other four were advised to study because they had potential to be great scholars and teachers. After some time, the four who were still in yeshiva followed up with Rabbi Kaplan because they were struggling financially. Rabbi Kaplan advised one of the four to get a job. The other three were advised to return to their studies. Within a short while, the remaining three were hired as rabbis teaching in other yeshivas.
This is more like it. It almost matches my own views (as a practical matter- not a Hashkafic matter). As an aside, if this approach were used in every Yeshiva, there would be more than enough Charedim to fill the quota of recruits. And there could be no complaints about pulling people out of the Beis HaMedrash since that is exactly what Rabbi Kaplan advised them to do – to leave the Beis HaMedrash and support their families.
Yes, he is Charedi and his views on various issues (like drafting Charedim) do not match mine. And as part of the Charedi culture in Israel he has expressed those views in hyperbolic ways. Ways which he now regrets and has apologized for. I respect him for that. And though I disagree with some of his views, I respect his Hashkafos; his right to express them publicly; and teach them to his students.
At this point I would like to apologize to him, his family, and Mir Yeshiva for any grief that I may have caused them through my writings.